FEDERAL RELATIONS OF OREGON 309 southerner, for Kentucky reflected the ideas of both sections; he stood well with the North and East on account of his pro- tective tariff views. He could be counted on to draw votes from all parts of the Union. The Democrats, on the other hand, had two prominent leaders, Martin Van Buren, who was the favorite in the North, and John C. Calhoun, who could count on almost undivided Democratic support in the South. So closely were they matched that it was not until the national convention at Baltimore was actually in session that the real situation could be grasped. Only in the light of this political situation can the Oregon activities of the first session of the Twenty-eighth Congress be interpreted. Most of the speeches which were delivered and many of the bills framed at this session were primarily aimed at influencing the coming election. Each faction tried to put itself on record in such a way as to commend itself to the country, and, at the same time, discredit its opponents, and all seized upon the references in the Annual Message to the Oregon Problem as points of departure. The Message 1 announced in general terms that the "United States would be at all times indisposed to aggrandize them- selves at the expense of any other nation, but while they would be restrained by principles of honor . . . from setting up a demand for territory, which does not belong to them, they would as unwillingly consent to a surrender of their rights." It noted that the United States had always con- tended that these claims appertained "to the entire region of country lying on the Pacific, and embraced within 42 degrees and 54, 40 of north latitude." The American minister at London had, under instructions, again brought the matter to the attention of the government of Great Britain, and "while nothing will be done to compromit the rights or honor of the United States, every proper expedient will be resorted to, in order to bring the negotiation now in progress of resumption to a speedy and happy termination." The President added his recommendation of the previous Message for an act pro- viding a line of military posts and extending* the laws of the i Richardson Messages, IV, 257, 8.
